Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Cactus Comeback a Real Prick for Angels

Bryan Lahair drilled a walk-off single off the right-centerfield fence to drive-in Fernando Perez from third-base with the winning run, as the Cubs rallied from a ten-run deficit to edge the Los Angeles Angels 14-13 in Cactus League action at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in warm and sunny (and VERY breezy) Mesa, AZ, this afternoon.

box score

Carlos Silva got the start for the Cubs today, and he had nothing, allowing eight runs on ten hits (and a HBP) in just 2.1 IP (54 pitches - 41 strikes), including surrendering eight hits in the top of the 3rd (and all of the hits were smacked right on the button, too). I have seen coaches throwing batting practice who had better stuff than Silva did today. At least Silva threw strikes, so the carnage passed fairly quickly.

And it could have been even worse, if not for Howie Kendrick getting thrown-out trying to score from 1st base on a single with two outs in the top of the 1st (Marlon Byrd had fielded the ball awkwardly and made a blind, off-balance throw toward the infield, but Blake DeWitt recovered nicely and gunned-down Kendrick easily at the plate), and Alberto Callaspo getting squelched by five steps (an absolute laser throw by Welington Castillo) while trying to steal 2nd base after being hit by a pitch in the top of the 2nd inning. But even with the Angel baserunning escapades, Silva could not hope to survive the 3rd. Chris Carpenter relieved Silva with one out, five runs in, and runners on 2nd and 3rd, and while the rookie right-hander did record the last two outs in the inning, he wasn't able to do it before surrendering a two-out two-run RBI single to Chris Pettit that gave the Angels a commanding 8-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Angels starting pitcher Dan Haren was masterfrul, throwing three innings of no run, no hit ball at the Cubs,

James Russell worked the middle three innings for the Cubs, and he wasn't fooling anybody (especially Mark Trumbo), either. Among other things, he allowed a Trumbo solo home run that sailed over the LF scoreboard, and a Trumbo double that almost cleared the 40-ft high batter's eye "Green Monster" in dead CF. Russell was battered in each of his three innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits (two singles, two doubles, a triple, and a home run). Russell is being stretched out as a starter this spring (he threw 54 pitches - 39 strikes today), but he'll probably be getting his starts in the Pacific Coast League. 

After being held hitless by Haren, the Cubs started their comeback in the bottom of the 4th against Angels closer Fernando Rodney. Marlon Byrd lined a single with one out, and Aramis Ramirez followed with a line-drive double into the LF corner. The Cubs were down nine runs at the time, but that didn't stop 3rd base coach Ivan DeJesus from waving Byrd home, and (sure enough) Byrd was out by three steps. Not giving up, the Cubs kept up the pressure as Carlos Pena, Alfonso Soriano, and Welington Castillo strung together consecutive two-out singles to net two runs, and cut the Angels lead to 9-2. 

Down 12-2 in the 6th, the Cubs scored seven times. Facing fireballin' RHP Ysmael Carmona (older brother of ex-Cub minor league pitcher Rogelio Carmona), Bryan Lahair led-off the inning with a single. After Carmona blew Matt Camp and Max Ramirez away with high-octane gas, Augie Ojeda and Steve Clevenger drew walks, loading the bases. That was all for Y. Carmona, as RHP Ryan Braun (the Angels pitcher, not the Brewers outfielder) was called into the game and (presumably) ordered to THROW STRIKES. And essentially he did that, as Scott Moore immediately ripped a two-out grand slam HR over the RF fence. But the Cubs weren't done. Lou Montanez singled to left, Fernando Perez also singled, and Josh Vitters sliced an RBI double down the RF line, scoring Montanez. Bryan Lahair walked to load the bases, and then Matt Camp drilled a two-run single to center to score Perez and Vitters, cutting the L. A. lead to 12-9. That finisihed Braun, as Chris Junge came into game. And with Max Ramirez representing the tying run, Junge did indeed restore order and get out of the inning with no further damage. At least in the 6th.

Kerry Wood threw a 1-2-3 7th (with two punch-outs), and Scott Maine worked a scoreless 8th, allowing just a single.

Then the Cubs actually took the lead (temporarily) in the bottom of the 8th. With one out, Fernando Perez walked, and Josh Vitters and Bryan Lahair ripped singles to load the bases. Matt Camp came through again (hitting with two strikes), driving-in Perez with a single, with Vitters holding at 3rd. Max Ramirez then laced a bases-clearing three-run double into the left-centerfield power alley, scoring Vitters, Lahair, and Camp, and giving the Cubs a 13-12 lead.

Jeff Samardzija came into the game in the 9th, trying to protect the one-run lead and record the save. But Brandon Wood wasted no time tying the game up at 13, hitting a solo HR over the right-centerfield fence. The Shark did retire the next three men he faced, but the game was tied. 

Lou Montanez led off the bottom of the 9th with a double. Then Fernando Perez tried to move Montanez (representing the winning run) to 3rd with a sacrifice bunt, and it was a good bunt, too. Pitcher Ryan Brasier had no play on the speedy Perez at 1st base, so he took a shot at getting Montanez at 3rd. And Montanez should have been safe at 3rd base, except he overslid the bag and was tagged out. Brasier was very concerned with Perez at 1st base, and made several attempts to hold him close with pickoff throws. But on the first throw home, Perez stole 2nd base easily. (Perez can really fly). Vitters flied out to deep CF for the second out of the inning, although Perez did take 3rd on the out.

Now remember... the Angels had no more pitchers left beyond Brasier, and so the game was going to end after nine innings whether the Cubs scored or not. But thanks to Bryan Lahair's big two-out hit, the Cubs walked-off the field with an improbable comeback victory.

The Cubs defense made two more errors today. RF Tyler Colvin made his third error in ten days on exactly the same type of play, a one-hop line-drive single to right where Colvin bobbles the ball, allowing the runner or runners to move up an extra base. And Augie Ojeda rushed a throw to 1st base with two outs in the top of the 6th, allowing an unearned run to score from 3rd base on the E-6.

Today was the mandatory reporting date for pitchers & catches at Minor League Camp at Fitch Park.

The Cubs have just recently re-signed catcher Mario Mercedes (post-2010 Rule 55 minor league FA) and he was catching at Fitch Park today. Mercedes will probably be one of the two catchers at Daytona in 2011 (Luis Flores should be the other one). Also, 18-year old Venezuelan Hector Suarez was brought up to Fitch Park from the Dominican Academy, and Engel Santana (who was at post-2010 AZ Instructs) is not present and presumably was replaced at Fitch Park by Suarez (with Santana apparently remaining in the Dominican Republic). And utility IF-OF David Macias is learning the art of catching, probably a good idea for a player who is squarely "on the bubble." So expect Macias to remain at Extended Spring Training at Fitch Park at the close of Minor League Camp (just as Jonathan Mota diid last year), giving him a couple of months to get some EXST game experience behind the plate.

Other catchers present at Minor League Camp at Fitch Park are Michael Brenly, Sergio Burruel, Luis Flores, 2010 3rd round pick Micah Gibbs, Jose Guevara, Max Kwan, Blake Lalli, Chad Noble, Jonathan Mota (also a utility IF-OF), and Carlos Romero. Recently-signed Cuban defector Yaniel Cabeza is not at Fitch Park at this time, and 16-year old Alberto Mineo will be remaining at the MLB European Academy in Italy until he graduates from high school. Cubs 2010 22nd round draft pick Jeff Vigurs retired after one season of pro ball season (in which he hit 165/235/233 with a 25% CS at Boise) and will be a Grad Assistant Baseball Coach at Northeastern U.

While only pitchers & catchers were required to be at Fitch Park today, 16 infielders and/or outfielders not required to be in camp have reported over the past week. 

Most of you know about D. J. Lemahieu's walk-off HR yesterday at HoHoKam Park, and he is in fact one of the 16 early arrivals. Lemahieu mainly played 2B at Daytona last year, but he was working out exclusively at 3B today. Also present early are OF-1B Michael Burgess (acquired from WAS in the Tom Gorzelanny trade), OF Kyler Burke, OF Tony Campana, 3B Matt Cerda, OF Evan Crawford (acquired from SF last year for Mike Fontenot), SS Wes Darvill, IF-OF Ryan Flaherty, 2010 2nd round draft pick OF Reggie Golden (who needs to lose some weight), IF-OF Marwin Gonzalez, OF Jae-Hoon Ha, 1B Rebel Ridling, OF Matt Szczur, 1B John Urick (29-year old signed out of an independent minor league and functioning as a player-coach today, Urick is the grandson of Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog), 2B-SS Logan Watkins (who was working out at both 2B and SS today), and OF Ty Wright (who is restricted to Limited Activity Only while rehabbing from an injury).  

2010 1st round draft pick RHP Hayden Simpson is assigned to the Peoria group, and he is cleared to participate in all drills, including throwing. (Simpson was unable to make his pro debut last season while battling mononucleoisis).

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Submitted by QuietMan on Mon, 03/07/2011 - 9:45pm. 2010 2nd round draft pick OF Reggie Golden (who needs to lose some weight) AZ Phil, how hefty is Golden? ========================================= QUIET MAN: Right now he looks like a younger, smaller version of Prince Fielder. He must not have worked-out much during the off-season. He really should have attended Club Colvin. I had thought after seeing him in AZ Instructs that Golden would have a good chance to start the season at Peoria, but now I suspect he will be left behind at Extended Spring Training, no matter how much he hits in Minor League Camp. Michael Burgess needs to lose weight, too. Despite a plus-arm, the Cubs have been working him out exclusively at 1B so far.

the best chance of ever seeing a female GM, leaves the Dodgers to work for MLB and Joe Torre. Kim Ng, who has been the Los Angeles Dodgers' assistant general manager since 2002 under three different general managers, is leaving the organization to accept a senior vice president's position with Major League Baseball, the commissioner's office announced on Tuesday morning.

Derrek Lee still experiencing soreness in his wrist, off to see a specialist. E. Volquez stuck in the Dominican trying to sort out his work visa...three cheers for red tape. E-Patt still trying to be a major leaguer, now with the Padres.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tom_verducci/03/08/stephe… interesting article on mechanics by Verducci, do wish he named everyone in the majors who has the "glitch".
The problem is the timing associated with that move, not the move itself. When Strasburg gets his elbows above his shoulders and the baseball is below or about even with his right shoulder, his stride foot is hitting the ground. The ball should be in the loaded position at that point, but because Strasburg uses the funky "high elbow" raise, he still has to rotate his arm above his shoulder to get it there. The energy from landing on his stride foot has passed too early to the shoulder and elbow -- before the joints are ready to use it.
No one around here will be surprised to learn that Prior apparently did.
(Some guys, such as Carlos Marmol of the Cubs, lead with their raised right elbow and may appear to be symptomatic, but manage to have the arm rotated up and into the loaded position by the time of foot strike. Young guys who get to the loaded position late who bear watching include Aaron Crow of Kansas City, Kyle Drabek of Toronto and Mark Rogers of Milwaukee, who already has had shoulder problems this spring.)

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

Since I was "stuck" with being at games when Wells pitched last year, including one where he gave up like 112 runs by the 2nd inning, I very non-sabremetrically believed that he had Angel-Guzman-itis where, after getting either two quick outs, or two strikes, he just would fall apart and not be able to seal the deal. This is one of the reasons why I truly admire a successful closer or set-up guy. Those late outs are really tough to get. In Wells' case, they were hard to get with the above scenario. BTW - OT: Just launched the CHROME browser (Mac) yesterday. WOW! Speed!

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...